** Oklahoma man steals ambulance from outside hospital
** Australian medics in Victoria vote for industrial action over pay
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Purcell, Oklahoma man was arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing an ambulance from outside an area hospital. KRMG (Michael Purdy/March 17) said the unidentified suspect was a patient at the facility. According to the news station, police nabbed him on the I-35 after a chase. He remained in hospital Sunday for treatment of an undisclosed medical condition. Police said they are unaware of the motive for the theft.
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** In an effort to draw attention to their pay dispute with the government, Victorian medics have said they will stage 22 new work bans. The Age (March 17) said the decision to pursue industrial action comes at a time when the 1700 EMS practitioners have been slugging it out over wages for nearly two years. According to the newspaper, salary negotiations have been ongoing since August 2012. Medics are seeking a 30 % pay hike over 3 years;in November, the government offered 12% for the same period. Along with the work stoppages, EMS providers are donning t-shirts and writing on ambulances to emphasize their position. Future protest plans could include politician and journalist ridealongs.
